Winner Justin Ruygrok competing in the farmlet challenge during the Young Farmer of the Year northern regional final.
Winner Justin Ruygrok competing in the farmlet challenge during the Young Farmer of the Year northern regional final.
Justin Ruygrok, 28, has inched closer to national victory after being crowned Northland’s top young farmer.
The Franklin dairy farmer was announced as the winner of the Northern FMG Young Farmer of the Year on Saturday evening, after spending the day competing in a series of challenges at the Helensville A&P Showgrounds.
“I’m stoked to have won. I had no idea what to expect heading into the competition, so to come out on top is pretty unreal,” Ruygrok said.
”The whole experience has been awesome, from having a crack at the district contest to now gearing up for the grand final.”
Participants enter one of three categories based on age, ranging from the AgriKidsNZ competition for primary school pupils, Junior Young Farmer of the Year for high school students, and the Young Farmer of the Year category, where just seven contestants battle it out for the top spot.
Ruygrok edged his way to victory by clocking up the most points on the day (310.3 points), defeating Auckland Young Farmers member Jack Holloway who finished up with a score of 291.4.
Kurtis Danks from Kaipara Young Farmers nabbed the final spot on the podium.
Contestants were tested on a broad range of practical skills, technical know-how, and their ability to cope under pressure, with several individual challenges thrown at them, including a head-to-head, general knowledge “buzzer-style” quiz, and sponsor-led modules.
Young Farmer of the Year northern regional final placegetters: second Jack Holloway (left, Auckland YF), first Justin Ruygrok (Franklin YF) and third Kurtis Danks (Kaipara YF).
“The practical side was heaps of fun, but the theory, and being up in front of a crowd, was definitely more of a challenge,” Ruygrok said.
“Some of the answers you know, but you’ve got to be quick on the buzzer.
“I had no idea what to expect heading into the competition, but it was a heap of fun.”
The AgriKidsNZ competition was another crowd favourite.
After a busy morning being challenged on their industry know-how, Grace Fitchett, Katie Caldwell, and Renee Hardwick, all 12, from Te Kamo Intermediate emerged as the region’s victors.
Annabelle Baker, 11, Deanna Finlayson, 12, and Jenna Crawford, 12, also from Te Kamo Intermediate placed second, just ahead of Sofia Flores-Jochmann, 10, Madison Lironi-Irvine, 10, and Naomi Varney, 9, from Helensville Primary and home-schooled, who trailed close behind.
Meanwhile, Chloe Fergusson and Nicky Wellwood from Whangarei Girls’ High School took out the title of Northern FMG Junior Young Farmers of the Year, ahead of Isla Stephenson and Maddy Cameron from Mount Albert Grammar School.
